Characteristics and effects of dissolved organic phosphorus from different sources on the water quality of Erhai Lake in Southwest China

Abstract

To establish the influence of dissolved organic phosphorus (DOP) from different sources on the water quality of Erhai Lake in August 2014, enzymatic hydrolysis technology was used to characterize enzymatically hydrolyzable phosphorus (EHP). The results indicate that the DOP represents a significant source of the bioavailable P in the lake water and its different sources of Erhai Lake, and the bioavailability of the P pool may be underestimated by up to 55% if DOP is ignored and only the soluble-reactive phosphorus (SRP) is considered. The significant differences in DOP characteristics from the different sources may be related to the origin of the DOP, regional pollution, and environmental factors. The DOP from the sediment porewater can act as an important source of DOP in the lake water based on its high DOP content and high DOP loads from the sediment release. In addition, the highest EHP loads from the sediment release can threaten the water quality of Erhai Lake and sustain the algal blooms when they occur. Therefore, for the protection of Erhai Lake, the contributions of not only the SRP but also the DOP to the bioavailable P pool should be considered, emphasizing the eutrophication risk caused by DOP from sediments, especially in the middle section of Erhai Lake. The effects of DOP from the inflowing rivers on the water quality should also not be ignored, due to its high bioavailability.

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